Background

Name: Richard Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly (MGK)Born: April 22, 1990

Houston, Texas, United StatesAge: 23Location: Raised in Cleveland, OhioGenre: Hip-Hop (Rap)Career: 2006 – presentLabels: EST 19XX, Bad Boy Records, Interscope

History

• While constantly moving, MGK attended high school in Cleveland and settled there permanently

• In 2009 he went to Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where he had consecutive victories, making him the first ever white rapper to win at the Apollo Theater

• He began getting exposure when he was featured on MTV2’s Sucker Free Freestyle

• His national debut occurred on May 2010• His most famous mixtape was released in November 2010

titled Lace Up• Signed with Bad Boy Records in 2011.

A little about him

• He records his music in his home studio, which he calls the “Rage Cage”

• His album ‘Lace Up’ features the hometown anthem “Cleveland” which is played at Cleveland Cavaliers home games

• It took three months to record ‘Lace Up’• He was featured in 2011’s XXL and presented as part of 2012’s

XXL Top Freshmen list (upcoming rappers)

Online/ social media presenceFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/machinegunkellymusic• Currently has over 2.3 million likes• Very consistent with updates• Consistently updates his followers on where he is and what he

is up to• Always tells where his next concert is

Cont’dTwitter: https://twitter.com/machinegunkelly• Constantly tweets out what he is up to• Shows constant updates with pictures• Humorous updates to entertain his fans, which include his life• Updates constantly to show his love for his fans

Cont’dInstagram:http://instagram.com/cockpunch• Always updates his location to his followers• Consistent with uploads• What he is currently doing for music• Very open to his fans, such as showing pictures of his family

Cont’d

YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/user/machinegunkellyAKhttp://www.youtube.com/user/MGKVEVO• Only uploads music related videos• Provides content on his tour(s)

Cont’dWebsitehttp://www.machinegunkelly.com• Connected to his profiles on different social media applications• Shows uploads of his past concerts• Shows pictures of his loyal fans, ones with tattos

Type of online communities

• The presence of this online community is seen on social media sites

• They are all a supportive based community that encourage and support the artist

• It is very difficult to find forums relating to the artist• He has a reputation of himself, his concerts, and fans

How are they maintained?

• All social media profiles are maintained by MGK and his friends

• His friends maintain his website

The 5 Social Media Tips

1. Find your audience2. Post meaningful, sharable content3. Engage your current fans4. Continue the social push IRL. Hand out swag.

Put up flyers5. Post Consistently

Has the Band found the audience?

• Yes and no• Still up and coming artist• Only tours around the United States and Canada• He has yet to travel elsewhere, such as Europe South America,

or even Asia• They have an audience of what they are looking for• They have just not expanded their fan base

Meaningful, Shareable content?

• He only presents shareable content• All content is meant for entertainment purposes• His content are heavily mature content

Engage with fans?

• He constantly engages with fans• From waiting in line for concerts to the social media he

engages with all• He excels with dedicated fans (i.e. fans with tattoos of his

name) uploading pictures with them on his personal profiles on various social media applications

Continue social push?

• He attempts to continue the social push• Only creates profiles on growing social media networks to

push his music out• Never forgets about his other social media profiles

Hand out Swags? Flyers?

• He does not hand out things like swag due to the size of his fan base

• With a small to medium fan base and the money he receives is not enough to maintain minor things

Post Consistently

• He is constantly updating his social media profiles• Always wants to update to his fans• Takes fans seriously, thus wants to give back to them in any

way possible